Following in the Supreme Court's footsteps, High Courts return to virtual hearings

Days after the Supreme Court decided that it would hear cases only in the virtual mode, many High Courts have also decided to follow suit in the light of the emerging omicron threat in a move that is expected to affect the pace of work in the courts.

The top court had on reopening on Jan 3 decided to go back to the virtual mode only till Jan 15. Now many High Courts are following suit to check the spread of the omicron variant, a relatively milder but more transmissible variant of corona.

The Bombay High Court went back to the virtual mode as corona cases spiked again in the state. The Patna High Court also decided to work only in the virtual mode as judges and staff turned corona positive.


Most High Courts and other judicial and quasi-judicial bodies are turning virtual to be on the safe side.

The Jharkhand High Court announced yesterday that it would work virtually till Jan 15, when it would assess and review its decision as did the Punjab and Haryana and Delhi High Courts.

The Bombay High Court will work virtually till Jan 30, 2020. The High Court's administrative committee of judges took the call yesterday as cases spiked in the state.

The Madras High Court had decided to work virtually, i.e. through video conferencing, indefinitely till the situation takes a turn for the better.